THE INFLUENCE OF NONVERBAL SYMBOLS ON THE MEANING OF MOTIVE TALK

Abstract

The nonverbal behaviors accompanying the verbal statements uttered as motive talk very much influence the meanings that others attribute to these words. Using data from an ethnography of masters swimming, the author argues that when notive talk is accompanied by supportive nonverbal behaviors it acts as an aligning action, working to restore and maintain social interactions when these are threatened by conduct that is out of character for the actor. However, in rhetorical negotiations, when motive talk is not supported by accompanying nonverbal behaviors, the motive talk is not used as an aligning action but is presented as a strategy of presentation of self and is used to produce the public confirmation by others of the situated identity of the higher-status initiator. Such use of motive talk is contrary to the received understanding that any contribution of motive talk to a person's identity work is contingent on its primary function as an aligning action.